About 15 percent of men and 25 percent of women have varicose veins, according to doctors, and they are a common indicator of venous reflux disease.

If a leg vein is healthy, doctors said the blood is pushed up to the heart and a valve shuts, keeping the blood from flowing back down.

But in a diseased vein, the valve doesn't shut properly, so blood ends up pooling in the lower leg and ankle, which can lead to venous reflux disease.

"The veins are not working so well. We stand up all day long, so that pressure generated a lot of heat, cramping, throbbing and restless legs. Some people say they can't get very comfortable with it, and some people get discoloration," said Dr. Kurtis Kim from Mercy Medical Center.

Kim said the first line of defense against the disease is to wrap the leg if it appears to be discolored. He said in the long term, mildly invasive surgery can also be very effective.